Rubber decking is the ultimate material to consider when you need to
install decking in commercial areas. Wherever you have a lot of people
walking or working, rubber decking provides the best safety net because
of its non-slip features. Rubber decking is made from the same material
as the tires on your vehicle, so you know that it is well worth the
extra money you have to pay for it. It is maintenance free and you
wont need to use any type of deck sealer to keep it waterproof as you
would with wood decking.
Rubber decking is not made using bonding agents and therefore does not
have any air gaps. Neither is it susceptible to contraction or
expansion and for this reason, if you choose this type of maintenance
free decking, you can expect to see less than ˝ inch of movement in a
20 foot length of decking. There is no need for painting, staining or
the use of wood deck sealers. The surface of the rubber can be buffed
so that you have the ultimate non-slip surface. However, since this
decking material is so watertight, you will probably have to clear the
water off of it after it rains, if you have the decking exposed.
When you install rubber decking, you have decking material that is well
able to withstand various temperatures. It is suitable for a
temperature of zero to those that exceed 100°. However, for colder
climates where the winter temperature dips below zero, this maintenance
free decking may not be suitable to use for outdoors. Although the use
of rubber will increase the life of your deck by about 5 years, you do
have to take the climate into consideration before you buy this
material.
The price of rubber decking is not cheap. One board measuring 1 inch
thick and 8 inches wide in black costs about 2 per foot, whereas the
same size board in grey or terra cotta costs over 3 per foot. This
maintenance free decking comes with a 25 year warranty, but there are
conditions attached. Even though you want decking that will not require
maintenance or the use of wood deck sealers, you do need to make sure
that the decking is properly installed. The support system should have
centers no more than 18 inches apart and each rubber board has to be
fastened to each center. If you use equipment heavier than 1000 pounds
on the decking, this will also void the warranty.
Rubber decking is also called Rumber. You can cut it with a saw when
you are installing the decking material. However, you must use a
carbide tip blade with large teeth. In addition to buying rubber boards
for installing maintenance free decking, you can also buy rubber
decking material in sheets. You do still have to fasten the rubber to
the center supports so that the middle of the deck is not loose.
To find out more about
Decking visit Peter's Website The Decking Guide and find out about
Composit Decking and more, including Wood Decking, IPE Decking, Trex Decking and Pool Decking
